Self-cleaning brushes



Oct. 29, 1963 L. R. PEILET SELF-CLEANING BRUSHES 2 ShoetsSheet 1 Filed Novi 4. 1960 FIG.2 7o 65 66 53 56342 52 INVENTOR. Les'ler R. Pel lel' ,MM M

Oct. 29, 1963 L. R. PEILET SELF-CLEANING BRUSHES Filed Nov. 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Lesl'er- R.Pe|le1' maymaaazwwwym A1- Tor-neqs United States Patent 3,108,305 SELF-CLEANING BRUSHES Lester R. Peilet, Hillsborough, Calif. (199 E. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Ill.) Filed Nov. 4, 1.960, Ser. No. 67,232 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-169) This invention relates to brushes, particularly new and improved brushes having a movable perforated bristle cleaning plate through which the bristles of the brush extend.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved self-cleaning brush in which the bristle cleaning plate is actuated by a mechanism external to the array of bristles.

.A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved self-cleaning brush wherein the mechanism for actuating the bristle cleaning plate is protectively mounted outside the array of bristles to prevent loose hair or other material from affecting its operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved self-cleaning brush wherein the mechanism for actuating the bristle cleaning plate is connected to the brush handle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved self-cleaning brush wherein the mechanism for actuating the bristle cleaning plate includes a knob rotatably mounted on the brush handle and arranged so that rotation of the knob causes the bristle cleaning plate to move along the bristles.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a self cleaning brush to be described as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 in FIG. 1 showing the bristle cleaning plate in a retracted position.

FIG. 3 is a side view somewhat similar to FIG. 2 but partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the bristle cleaning plate in an extended position.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the construction shown in FIG. 3, along the line 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the construction shown in FIG. 3, along the line 5-5.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the construction shown in FIG. 3, along the line 6-6.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the construction shown in FIG- 3, along the line 77.

FIG. '8 is a top view of one modification of the selfcleaning brush.

FIG. 9 is a side view, partly in section on the line 99 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, somewhat similar to FIG. 9 but showing another modification of the self-cleaning brush.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 9 but showing still another modification of the selfcleaning brush. 7

FIGS. 12 and 13 are cross sectional views of the const-ruction shown in FIG. 11, taken along the lines 12-42 and 13-13.

As already indicated, FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings illustrate a brush 20 including a handle 21 and a bristle plate 22. Tufts of bristles 24 are mounted in a regular array on the bristle plate, in a manner well known in the art. An elongated bristle cleaning plate 26 is mounted on the brush with the bristles 24 extending through per- 3,168,305 Patented Oct. 29, 1963 Ice p parallel relation to the bristle plate 22 and is guided by the bristles for movement toward and away from the bristle plate. The size of the perforations 28 corresponds closely to the size of the tufts of the bristles extending therethrough, so that the cleaning plate 26 will scrape any foreign material oil the bristles as the cleaning plate is moved away Ifirom the birstle plate 22.

A transverse downwardly extending stud or post 30 is integral with or rigidly secured to one end portion 32 of the birstle cleaning plate 26 (FIGS. 2 and 4). The stud 30 is provided with a slot 34 extending therethrough. Gear teeth 36 are formed on one edge of this slot to define a rack 37 (FIG. 4).

The handle 21 has a thickened inner end 38 which is formed with a bore or opening 40 for receiving and guiding the stud 30. The opening 40 extends in a direction generally parallel to the bristles 24 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The stud 30 is slidably mounted in the bore 40 so that the bristle cleaning plate 26 is movable from a retracted position shown in FIG. 2 to an extended position shown in FIG. 3.

The handle 21 of the brush is provided with an axially extending bore 42 communicating with opening 40. A shaft 44 is rotatably mounted in the bore 42 (FIG. 2). A retaining collar or ring 46 is mounted on the shaft 44. The outer end portion 48 of the handle 21 is provided with a counterbore 50. A sleeve 52 is adapted to fit in the counterbore 50. As shown in FIG. '2, the length of sleeve 52 is such that its inner end 53 is in spaced relation to the end wall 54 of the counterbore, so as to define a collar receiving groove 56. The retaining collar 46 is received in the groove 56 so that the shaft 44 is held rotatably in its position within the handle 20. As seen in FIG. 2, :set screws 58 are provided to lock the sleeve 52 inthe counter bore.

The shaft 44 is provided with a gear 6% In this embodiment the gear teeth 61 are actually splines which extend the length of the shaft for reasons to become apparent shortly, but other equivalent arrangements are possible. The teeth or splines 61 on the shaft 44 are in mesh with the teeth 36 of the rack 37 so that rotation of the shaft 44 raises or lowers the stud 30 and moves the bristle cleaning plate 26 toward and away from the bristle plate 22.

The outer end of the shaft 44 is provided with an actuating knob 62. This knob has an axial bore 64 extending therethrough. The bore 64 has internal radial grooves 67 adapted to receive the splines or teeth 61 on the shaft 44 (FIG. 7). The outer end of the knob 62 has a counterbore 65 to form a spring receiving seat 66. A threaded bore 68 is formed on the free end of the shaft 44, to receive a bolt '70. A coil spring 72 is disposed in the counterbore 65 andis compressed between the seat 66 and the head 71 of the screw 70. The compressive force of the spring 72 urges the inner end of the knob 62 against the outer end 48 of the hand-1e 21.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the inner end of the knob 62 is formed with serrations 74. Mating serrations 76 are formed on the outer end of the handle 21. The engagement of the splines or teeth 61 with the grooves 67 in the knob 62 causes the shaft 44 to rotate when the knob 62 is rotated. This in turn causes the stud 30 and thqbristle cleaning plate 26 to move. The spring urged frictional engagement between the serrations 74 and 76 hold the bristle cleaning plate in any desired position.

It will be noted that the stud 30* and the rack 37 are on one side of the bristle array so that loose hair or other foreign material picked up by the bristles will not be likely to adhere to the rack 37 or the shaft 44 so as to affect their operation. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7, the slot 34 extends completely through the 3 stud 30, but if desired the side of the slot 34 facing the bristles 24 could be closed for a more complete isolation from the bristles.

As seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a bellows-like curtain 77 is attached between the peripheral portions of the bristle plate 22 and the bristle cleaning plate 26. When the bristle cleaning plate is in its extended position, as shown in FIG. 3, the curtain 77 forms a closure around the bristles 24. This is an advantageous feature, because the curtain conceals the bristles and excludes foreign material therefrom.

Although the bristle cleaning plate 26 is supported at only one end, the bristles extending through the perforations 28 act as guides to keep the bristle plate 22 and the bristle cleaning plate 26 in spaced parallel alignment while the bristle cleaning plate is being moved toward and away from the bristle plate.

To clean the bristles of the brush, it is only necessary to rotate the knob 62 so as to move the bristle cleaning plate 26 from the retracted position, shown in FIG. 2, to the extended position, shown in FIG. 3, and then back to the position shown in FIG. 2. Because of the close correspondence between the size of the perforations 28 and the bristle tufts, the cleaning plate 26 scrapes loose hair or other foreign material from the bristles. When the brush is not being used, the bristle cleaning plate may be left in its extended position so the curtain 77 forms a protective cover around the bristles 24.

A modified self-cleaning brush 80 is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings. This brush includes a handle 82 and a bristle plate 84. Tufts of bristles 86 are mounted on the bristle plate 84 in a regular array. A bristle cleaning plate 88 is mounted on brush 80 with the bristles 86 extending through perforations 90 in the plate 88. The bristle cleaning plate has a thickened end portion 92 which fits in a recessed end portion 94 of the bristle plate 84. The thickened end portion 92 of the cleaning plate is provided with a transverse bore 96. It will be seen that an annular groove 98 is formed at an intermediate point Within the bore 96.

The handle 82 has a thickened inner portion 100 which is provided with a threaded bore 102 and a coaxial counterbore 104, which extend in a direction perpendicular to the bristle plate 84. The threaded bore 102 in the handle 82 is coaxial with the bore 96 in the bristle cleaning plate.

An actuating screw 106 is in threaded engagement with the bore 102. A head 108 is formed at one end of the screw. The ring 110 is adapted to snap into the groove 98, so as to retain the pilot portion 109 in the bore 96.

It will be apparent from FIG. 9 that screw 106 can be rotated and advanced through the threaded bore 102 by inserting a screw driver or key 112 into a slot 113 in the head 108 of the screw 106. It will als be noted that the counterbore 104 is large enough to permit the entrance and movement of the head 108 therein. The movement of the screw 106 through the threaded bore 102 causes the bristle cleaning plate 88 to move upwardly to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 9. In doing so, the plate 88 cleans the bristles. The length of the screw 106 is selected so the bristle cleaning plate can never move over the ends of the bristles and otf the brush. It will be seen from FIG. 9 that the head 108 of the screw 106 is engageable with the upper end of the counterbore 104 to limit the upward movement of the screw 104, and

thereby limit the outward movement of the bristle clea.n'

ing plate 88.

By positioning the actuating screw 106 on one side of the array of bristles and in spaced relation with respect thereto, there is little chance for hair or other material to adhere to and adversely affect the operation of the screw. Consequently the demands on the screw and on the bristle cleaning plate are small and they can be made quite inexpensively.

Although the curtain 77 described in the modifications shown in FIGS. 1-7 is not shown associated with the brushes shown in FIGS. 8-13, it will be evident that, if desired, the curtain could be attached between the bristle plate 84 and the bristle cleaning plate 88.

The self-cleaning brush shown in FIG. 10 has a modified handle 82 and a modified actuating screw 120. In this embodiment the threaded bore 102 extends completely through the thickened portion of the handle. The screw is in threaded engagement with bore 102'. It will be seen that a key-like operating member "122 is pivotally attached to the lower end portion of the screw 120. Thus, the operating member may be folded into an out-of-the-way position as shown in solid lines. When it is desired to move the bristle cleaning plate, the keylike member 122 is swung to the position shown in dotted lines so that the screw 120 can readily be rotated. The head of the key 122 is engageable with the thickened portion 100' of the handle 82 so as to limit the upward movement of the screw 120. Thus, the bristle cleaning plate 88 cannot be overextended.

The self-cleaning brush shown in FIGS. 11-13 has still another modified screw 130, which is formed with a generally circular bore 132 extending partially therethrough. The depth of this bore is sufficient to almost completely accommodate an actuating member 134 therein. It will be seen that the actuating member 134 comprises a non-circular shank 136 terminating in a cylindrical guide member 138 at one end and a knurled head 140 at the other end. The screw has inwardly directed outer end portions or lugs 142 which are shaped to form a non-circular entrance to the bore 132, whereby rotation of the member 134 causes the screw 130 to rotate, so as to raise and lower the bristle-cleaning plate 88.

It will be apparent that the head of the member 134 may be grasped and the member 134 may be almost completely withdrawn from the bore 132 so that the screw may be extended upwardly through the threaded bore. The cylindrical guide portion 138 engages the inwardly turned lugs 142 to retain the member 134 within the bore 132. When the actuating screw is not being used, the member 134 may be telescoped almost completely into the bore 132, so as to occupy the out-of-theway position shown in FIG. 11.

Most of the components of the illustrated brushes may be molded from plastic materials or made inexpensively of metal. Moreover, the brushes may easily be assembled. Accordingly, the brushes can be manufactured at a low cost.

Various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a self-cleaning brush, the combination comprising a handle and an attached bristle plate, an array of bristles secured to said bristle plate and arranged in tufts, a bristle cleaning plate having perforations therein, said bristles extending through said perforations in said bristle cleaning plate whereby the bristle cleaning plate is mounted on said brush in parallel relation to said bristle plate and is guided by said bristles for movement toward and away from the bristle plate, the size of the perforations in said bristle cleaning plate corresponding to the size of the tufts of the bristles extending therethrough so that movement of the bristle cleaning plate toward and away from the bristle plate cleans the bristles, a transverse stud secured to one end portion of the bristle cleaning plate, a rack formed on said stud, an opening formed in said handle slidably receiving said stud, an axially extending bore in said handle transverse to and communicating with said opening, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bore, a pinion on said shaft meshing with said rack whereby rotation of said shaft moves said bristle cleaning plate with respect to said bristle plate, and a knob areasos 5 secured to said shaft and coaxial therewith whereby rotation of said knob causes said shaft to rotate.

2. The self-cleaning brush described in claim 1, and including serrations on the adjacent ends of the knob and the handle, and means biasing said serrated ends together whereby the bristle cleaning plate will be frictionally held in any desired position with respect to said bristle plate.

3. in a self-cleaning brush, the combination comprising a handle and an attached bristle plate, an array of bristles secured to said bristle plate and arranged in tufts, a bristle cleaning plate having perforations therein, said bristles extending through said perforations in said bristle cleaning plate whereby the bristle cleaning plate is mounted on said brush in parallel relation to said bristle plate and is guided by said bristles for movement toward and away from said bristle plate, the size of the perforations in said bristle cleaning plate corresponding to the size of the tufts of the bristles extending therethrough so that the movement of the bristle cleaning plate toward and away from the bristle plate cleans the bristles, a bellows-like curtain connected between adjacent peripheral portions of the bristle plate and the bristle cleaning plate whereby movement of said bristle cleaning plate away from said bristle plate extends said curtain and forms a protective cover around said bristles, the movement of said bristle cleaning plate toward said bristle plate being effective to fold said curtain, a transverse stud secured to one end portion of the bristle cleaning plate,

a rack formed on said stud, a slot formed in said handle and slidably receiving said stud, a bore in said handle transverse to and communicating with said slot, a shaft rotatably mounted in said "bore, splines on said shdt meshing with said rack whereby rotation of said shaft moves said bristle cleaning plate toward and away from said bristle plate, a knob slidably mounted on said shaft and coaxial therewith, said knob having internal grooves meshing with said splines for rotating said shaft, serrations on the adjacent ends of the knob and the handle, means biasing said serrated ends together whereby the bristle cleaning plate will be frictionally held in any desired position with respect to said bristle plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,627,634 Coyne May 10, 1927 2,660,183 Gmring Nov. 24, 1953 2,916,756 Peilet et a1. Dec. 15, 1959 2,916,757 Peilet et al. Dec. 15, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 81 Great Britain Jan. 2, 1886 14,033 Great Britain Oct. 15, 1887 312,180 Germany May 14, 1919 396,279 Great Britain Aug. 3, 1933 660,638 Germany May 5, 1938 

1. IN A SELF-CLEANING BRUSH, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A HANDLE AND AN ATTACHED BRISTLE PLATE, AN ARRAY OF BRISTLES SECURED TO SAID BRISTLE PLATE AND ARRANGED IN TUFTS, A BRISTLE CLEANING PLATE HAVING PERFORATIONS THEREIN, SAID BRISTLES EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PERFORATIONS IN SAID BRISTLE CLEANING PLATE WHEREBY THE BRISTLE CLEANING PLATE IS MOUNTED ON SAID BRUSH IN PARALLEL RELATION TO SAID BRISTLE PLATE AND IS GUIDED BY SAID BRISTLES FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE BRISTLE PLATE, THE SIZE OF THE PERFORATIONS IN SAID BRISTLE CLEANING PLATE CORRESPONDING TO THE SIZE OF THE TUFTS OF THE BRISTLES EXTENDING THERETHROUGH SO THAT MOVEMENT OF THE BRISTLE CLEANING PLATE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE BRISTLE PLATE CLEANS THE BRISTLES, A TRANSVERSE STUD SECURED TO ONE END PORTION OF THE BRISTLE CLEANING PLATE, A RACK FORMED ON SAID STUD, AN OPENING FORMED IN SAID HANDLE SLIDABLY RECEIVING SAID STUD, AN AXIALLY EXTENDING BORE IN SAID HANDLE TRANSVERSE TO AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID OPENING, A SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BORE, A PINION ON SAID SHAFT MESHING WITH SAID RACK WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT MOVES SAID BRISTLE CLEANING PLATE WITH RESPECT TO SAID BRISTLE PLATE, AND A KNOB SECURED TO SAID SHAFT AND COAXIAL THEREWITH WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID KNOB CAUSES SAID SHAFT TO ROTATE. 